Indicator-funnel for cans



(No Model.)

H. B-. WATSON. INDICATOR FUNNEL FOR CANS.

No. 494,403. Patented Mar. 28,1893.

7, ax I Z llVVENTO/f A TTOHNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. WATSON, OF GLEN COVE, NEW YORK.

INDICATOR-FUNNEL FOR CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,403, dated March 28, 1893.

Application filed July 15, 1892. fierial No. 440,130. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY B. WATSON, of Glen Cove, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Indicator-Funnel for Cans, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to providea simple and inexpensive funnel attachment for cans, or similar vessels from which liquids are poured; and more particularly, to furnish a convenient and reliable means to facilitate the pouring of oil from an oil can, into a lamp or other vessel, so as to avoid spilling the liquid while being decanted, and also prevent overflowing the vessel while being filled.

To these ends myinvention consists in' the peculiar construction of parts, and their combination, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of a can having the improvement placed on its spout. Fig. 2 is a side view of the can and the improved funnel attachment thereon, representing the relative position assumed by the latter when the can is tipped to pour liquid from its spout. Fig. 3 is a broken top view of the can and the funnel attachment in place on it. Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of one portion of the improved funnel attachment, that serves to hold the funnelin place on the can spout; and

, Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the funnel securing piece.

The improvement may be used in connection with cans or other vessels having pouring spouts, and consists essentially of a funnel A, a looped supporting arln B, by preference formed integrally with the part A, and an indicating float A, that is adapted to slide in the funnel.

The funnel and its arm are made of sheet metal, of proper dimensions to suit the capacity of the vessel it is tobe used upon, and as represented the funnel A, converges from the top to the lower end, having the duplicate members of the looped arm B, extended from the upper portion laterally.

It is intended that the funnel A, shallbe secured removably upon the free end portlon of the spout O, of the can 0, so that the top of the funnel will be adapted to recelve the liquid as it is poured therefrom, and convey it into the receiving aperture of a lamp or other vessel having a small filler hole, (not shown.)

The preferred device for detachably connecting the funnel with the can spout conslsts of a conical sleeve D, from which pro ecttwo journal studs ct oppositely.

To apply the device to a can spout C, the sleeve D is slid upon and made to frictionally engage with the pouring end of said spout and the two spaced members of the arm B, which have perforations formed in them near the funnel, are spread apart sufficiently to permit the studs a to enter the perforations, the resilience of said members serving to restore them to a normal condition, thereby locating the funnel and its arm on the can spout. Such a proper length is given to the arm 13, as Wlll allow the funnel to swing freely, and at the bow of the looped arm a weight 1) 1s formed or fastened, which is proportioned to counterbalance the funnel A, so that it will automatically adjust itself to suit any tlpping nclination of the can body and its spout, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The float A, is affixed upon the lower end of a guide rod 6, that is held free to slide wlthin the funnel A by its loose engagement with the perforated ears 6, that are projected Irom the same side of the funnel within it, and near its ends. Said float is made of cork or other suitable light material, and normally hangs below the end 0, of the funnel, the rod e, being held from displacement by an 1nd1- cator plate g, or other means.

It will be seen that by using the improved attachment upon an oil can of common construction, such as is shown in the drawings, and introducing the small end 0 of the funnel A, within a filler nozzle on alamp, the full can may be tipped and its contents transferred to the lamp chamber, without spilling any of the oil, as the funnel always assumes a proper position to transfer liquid poured into and through it. The float A that is 1nserted in the vessel to be filled, will rise and ILO move the indicator g when the proper amount of liquid has been decanted.

In Fig. 5, a substitute for the conical sleeve D, 1s shown, that in service will effect the same function; which device E, is in bow form, having journal studs (1, thereon, that will support the funnel A free to vibrate, if the arm 13 is made to loosely engage its perforated members with the studs, and the bow piece is sprung over the spout end so as to embrace it near the pouring end, in an obvious manner.

The funnel may be used in large form, to facilitate the transfer of grain or seeds from one vessel to another, or any liquid may be decanted from a can or other receptacle having a delivery spout, to fill a measure, or another vessel. The indicator may also be used in connection with any ordinary funnel.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A vibratable funnel adapted to removably engage with the spout of a vessel, and a counter-balancing device for said funnel, substantially as described.

2. A vibratable funnel, a clasping device adapted to removably support the funnel on a can spout, an indicating device within the funnel, and a counter-balance for the funnel, substantially as described.

3. An attachment for cans, comprising a funnel, a looped arm on the funnel, perforated near its ends, a device securable upon the can spout and provided with journal studs adapted to engage the perforations in the looped arm, and a vertically movable float in the funnel, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the spout on a can, of a funnel, a looped arm laterally projected from the funnel near its top,a weight on said arm, and a device adapted to engage the can spout near its pouring end and pivotally support the funnel and its arm, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the spout on a can, of a conical sleeve on said spout, journal studs on said sleeve, a funnel pivoted on said studs, and a looped weighted arm on the funnel near its upper end, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a funnel for discharging and filling vessels, said funnel having aligning ears therein, of a rod adapted to slide freely in said cars, a float on the lower end of the rod, and a stop on the rod limiting its downward movement, substantially as described.

7. The combination With the spout on a can, and a sleeve engaging the spout near its free end, said sleeve having opposite journalstuds thereon,of a funnel, a looped arm on the funnel near its larger end, which arm is perforated to engage the journal studs of the sleeve, and a counterbalancing weight on the looped arm, substantially as described.

HENRY B. WATSON.

Witnesses:

W. O. FRosT, DANlEL V. WEEKs. 

